Adjustable tube bending pattern device

Abstract

An adjustable tube bending pattern device which is shaped to be readily and accurately formed into a wide variety of shapes so that it can be shaped to go around or avoid with sufficient clearance all obstacles, retain its shape but which can be reshaped and reused many times, to be used to form in place a precise pattern of a complex shaped tube or pipe which is then used as a pattern to accurately bend a tube or pipe to fit the intended use.

I claim: 
     
       1. An adjustable tube bending pattern device used to form in place a pattern of a complex bent tube or pipe, comprising: (a) a plurality or relatively short straight tubular components with end pieces fixed at right and acute angles interconnected and arranged in end to end relation, each said tubular component being rotatable with respect to other said tubular components to which it is interconnected,   (b) a means of locking said tubular components together,   (c) a means of controlling and locking the degree of rotation between said tubular components, and   (d) a serial arrangement of said tubular components with recurring configurations of said end pieces positioned at right angles and positioned at acute angles, whereby said serial arrangement allows patterning of tubes and pipes with bends of different angles and in different planes.   
     
     
       2. An adjustable tube bending pattern device used to form in place a pattern of a complex bent tube or pipe, comprising: (a) a plurality of relatively short straight tubular components, interconnected and arranged in end to end relation, there being a first of said tubular components, a second of said tubular components and a third of said tubular components of which type are repeated consecutively in order to form a pattern for a bent tube of any desired length,   (b) a first end piece on one end of said first tubular component positioned at a right angle with respect to the axis of said first tubular component and a second end piece on the other end of said first tubular component positioned at an acute angle with respect to the axis of the said first tubular component,   (c) a third end piece on one end of said second tubular component positioned at said acute angle with respect to the axis of the said second tubular component and a fourth end piece on the other end of said second tubular component positioned at said acute angle but diametrically opposed with respect to the axis of said second tubular component,   (d) a fifth end piece on one end of said third tubular component positioned at said acute angle with respect to the axis of said third tubular component and a sixth end piece on the other end of said third tubular component positioned at a right angle with respect to the axis of said third tubular component,   (e) a locking means of joining and disjoining said tubular components together in series while remaining individually rotatable, effected by said first end piece, said third end piece and said fifth end piece being of one kind and said second end piece, said fourth end piece and said sixth end piece being of a second kind such that end pieces of one kind are joinable to end pieces of the second kind,   (f) a controlling means of varying and holding the amount of rotation between said tubular components, so that a bent tube or pipe pattern can be formed with a variety of bends at various angles in different planes.   
     
     
       3. An adjustible tube bending pattern device used to form in place a pattern of a complex bent tube or pipe as described in claim 2 where said locking means consists of a snap fit tube centered on and joined to all end pieces of said second kind and a corresponding recepticle fitting centered on and joined to all end pieces of said first kind. 
     
     
       4. An adjustible tube bending pattern device used to form in place a pattern of a complex bent tube or pipe as described in claim 2 where said locking means consists of a releasable cam operated connection, comprising a short tube joined to, centered on and extending from end pieces of said second kind, a fitting being equipped with a plurality of fingers; a withdrawing and extending means for said plurality of fingers to grasp said snap fit tube and lock it into correspondance with said fitting; and said withdrawing and extending means communicating to a lever positioned to the outside surface of said adjustible tube bending pattern device. 
     
     
       5. An adjustible tube bending pattern device used to form in place a pattern of a complex bent tube or pipe as described in claim 2 where the controlling means consists of a releasable spring device positioned between said tubular components at their interconnection, said releasable spring device being comprised of a thin flat spring attached to an end piece of said second kind having a nipple which is positioned to engage indentations in an end piece of said first kind; and a means of retracting the spring to disengage said nipple from said indentations allowing said tubular components to be rotated with respect to one another.